New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-10
THREE CABINET OFFICERS.
AND THEIR MODES OF DOING BUSINESS.


scientists every MAJ undergoes q complete change
in years. At the end of that period, not
fibre. muscle, particle of flesh or drop OF blood
mains which formed part OF body at the begin
ming of the period This scientific tact may account,
perhaps, for the difference between the Bayard of
1880 and the Bayard of 1887. No two persons
could be unlike each other than this man at
the beginning and the close OF that period Whas
q big figure he seemed then, and how insignificant
he is to-day. What great things were predicted of
him, and how he has disappointed his friends What
political possibility he once and what perfect
nonenty he is nov.
Mr.. Bayard's official acts arc matter of record.
Everybody knows the foolish apr ointments he has
made Everybody remembers his hect ring policy to-
ward weaker nation and his obsequious conduct in the
face of shrewd but determined opposition, when that
opposition directed by the representative of q
strong government. His administration of the State
Department weak facilitating and unsatisfactory as
it has been, made for him few enc MES though it CON-
pletely demolished his reputation a diplomat and
demonstrated his incaDaoity tor executive work. 1t
his personal manner toward his old associates and
friends rather that him the respect of the former
and lost him the affection OF the latter. man who
has Offices to distribute and official patronage to dis
pense puts his capacity and judgment to the severes
test He makes few friends because Ia the nature OF
things he cannot satisfy anybody. and those whom
he disapponts-always the great majority -he turns
into enemies forever after. But have never seen
public man who succeeded more thoroughly than
BayarG has creating s0reheads and enemies.
Never very popular while member OF the Senate, he
has now not single friend among his former party
colleagues. Not single Democrat has good word
for him. The change which has gradually come over
Mr.. Bayard became more marked when he assumed
Office. He had formerly been In the habit OF lecturng
his associates in the Senate but in an inofensive
way, and nobody minded him. But since he became
Secretary of State he has become perfect prUdigal
in the matter of advice And he has the bad taste to
show bis resentment if is not followed This is the
q Tba h,oh 10 10 fnl-
low is vented W those brought into contact with
him. At all times diuse and tiresome taker, he
becomes such occasions the bane OF ones exist
ence. What TO unfit him for his present place
than AM thing else is his lack OF ability to listen
with discretion and patience. His interviews with
foreign dip lomats heads of bureaus in his Depart
ment amount to moDologues. And an air always ac-
companies them which seems to say, thank the
Almighty that i not like these" AT Cabinet
meetings, am told. he frequently monopolizes the
entire tme and the same at dinner tables lie talks
upon every conceivable subject and discusses every
possible topic with equal ardor and the same ex
calbedrl manner. Japanese gentleman who had
dined in his company and listened to Mr.. Bayards
talk upon variety OF subjects, Japan itself included,
exclaimed to his neighbor as he rose " What b
wonderful your Secretary of State is. He seems
to know something about everything, except Japan"
well-known Southern Senator told me that
It pleasure to heard Nj Bayard give utterance
to the noble sentiments he constantly carries on the
tip OF his tongue unable to determine whether
the Senator meant what he said simply attempted
mild sarcasm. At any rate it is one OF Mr.. BayardS
characteristics. He rarely allows opportunity TO
escape hun Tor utterng Datitudes. Having assumed
the role of diplomat he cultivates three things,
convenient deafness, very reprehensiDle habit oil
prevaricating and the discharge OF most outrageous
commonplaces against unsuspecting listeners. This
seems to be the and substance OF his diplomatic
capacity Prevaricaton may be mild term to
use in designating Mr.. Bayards explicit denial OF the
existence OF the Russian exradton treaty when his
signature upon the document was scarcely dry yet,
but it Ia at any polite than the other word
never pass through the iron screen dividing the
State Department from the Navy De partment without
thinking OF the screen scene in the " School tor
Scandal" On the one side OF the screen Is Mr.
Bayard the Joseph Surface whose brother Charles Is
moved excaim ironically: There is nothing 80
noble as q OF sentiment" On the other side oil
the screen Mr.. Whitney sort OF young Sir Peter
Teazle who iuterposes bluntly: "Oh, damn your
sentiments"
Only q few days ago the county was Pal led by the
spectacle of an esteemed Mugwump contemporary
" The New-York Tines "-employing its esteemed
Washington correspondent to scarfy the Adminlstra
tons peachblow vase Secretary Endicott. 1t was a
sveutace calculated to touch the most callous heart
for If Secretary Endicott, who Is rejected by the
Democracy, should be cast of by the Mugwumps also
his tate would be hard indeed Since that, however,
q transformation has taken place food OF purest
rosy light-a sort of calcium bush-has been turned
pom the scene and Secretary Endcott is discovered
in the arms of the Mugwump. charmed, his bosom
heaying with loves voung oonvulsi0n the charmer |
twanrs the Tyre and MARBLES sweetest lays OF JOY No
mere mortal present at that reconciliation. All
that is known of it is given here. One day saw the
sac red circle invaded by inturiated Mugwump and
the Cabinets dantest article OF bijouerie tor one
awful moment handled like coarsest earthen war, |
The next day beheld the holy thing replaced in the
deepest bowel of the shrine and caught from aar Oh
the perfume OF pous huswump incense. That Is ALL
But while this roadJustn snt OF poartes is going |
on and the anoiDted few behold in rereren1 ecst"c,
the constellation OF Mugwumpery with Endicott iE
what say the Wild waves OF Democracy |
beating the base of those serene alttudes What,
for instance says the dulcet Watterson-Wiid Harry
Of the Westi There are Mug wump assurances from |
that all is forgiven and that secretary
Endicot instead OF being inaccessible and naughty,
q only worked to death. There is picture OF this
martyr of reform shutting his doors upon the public,
not that no would deny them, but only that he may
tail for them the more Major" Lee, the sristO |
cratic waiter at the Secretarys outer gate, not put
there to bro wheat and insult citizens who would pen
citrate the sanctuary. lie is charged to dihuse the
most gracious afabty and only to stand of " the |
faithful while the great man perfects bis gigantic
scheme of reform Henry Watterson does not believe
this because about two years ago, he eheoted con-
junction with MAJOR Lee and in the presence OF two
reyerent Kentuokians was bounced like a ragged and
unsavOry tramp. The Democratic rank and ME do
not believe it, tor yet has one oil them entered
tie dazzling presence few specially favored ones |
have seen tho Secretary at home and peradYenture,
partakel of certain bleak refreshments dispensed to
Them but il any one has ever approached bis oih.e
without encounterng indgnity and failure, that fact
ia We. to DO made known. The Mugwump remon-
STRANGE has, it seems opened private way tor Mug
wump iaureates, but tor the public the people, the
Democracy whose servant Mr.. Endicott is humorously
supposed TO be, there is no admission whatsoever.
Ali is not love and harmony. The Democratic
chcftains are not proud OF this fetch OF Iespecta
bility They do not for his Roundhead grand
father ia the very least They catch stray glimpses
of MIN as he rolls by in Government chan lot. and
they observe that looks rgd and does not cut his
hair But they know that be is invisible and IN
accessible tie Grand Llama ind they begin 10 De-
roaring donkey like General Black, or foolish OBJ
structiou;st like General Sparks, or shabby dema-
gocue like Holm an but he ohends them more than |
ali of these combined for he is the living repre-
sentative of the Presidents Mugwump yearnings, |